New Game Releases: November 5th-11th, 2015

This week’s schedule of new game releases offers a number of triple-A titles, from Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Fallout 4, to Rise of the Tomb Raider. But equally as temping are some of the games on the precipitous of mainstream popularity, such as Yo-kai Watch. Attempting a Pokémon-like invasion using dual media, Yo-kai Watch centers on collecting spirits, which can be used to battle similar creatures. While it’s disappointing to see Nintendo excise many of the references to Japanese folklore, undoubtedly this is one of the new releases with multi-generational appeal.

Robert Pick: With some extraordinary tough competition this week, Fallout 4 is poised to outshine the competition. Previous entries have delivered an attractive “bang-to-buck” ratio, extending hours of engaging, non-linear gameplay. Between the component-based weapon system, the return of the occupying V.A.T.S-based combat system, and the ability to salvage materials and building settlements with them, Fallout 4 might just turn gaming rooms into our own personal vaults. I just hope that Todd Howard’s pledge to bring mods to the PlayStation 4 version isn’t an empty promise.